Chapter 14: Turtle and Crane Garden

At the same moment, in the rooms in the backyard of the Pan Manor, the women participating in the performance were either applying makeup or resting in their respective rooms. The Zishu Poetry Gathering’s garden was just a wall away, and if they stepped out into the corridor, they could watch the gathering unfold from behind a gauze curtain at the entrance.

Most of the women performing tonight were already well-known figures along the Qinhuai River, many with their unique charms. At a typical poetry gathering, any one of them could easily dominate the event, but that was not the case tonight. Not all attendees at the Zishu Poetry Gathering were men; many had brought companions. For example, Old Man Qin brought his poetry-loving concubine, Yun Niang, and many others brought their wives or young ladies from prominent families. In such an environment, these performers absolutely could not be the center of attention, nor could they sit out to draw eyes after their performances.

However, even if they only performed song and dance, their outstanding talent would be enough to leave a deep impression. Women like them, when surrounded solely by men, would adopt a more elevated and reserved demeanor. In settings like this, they quietly played a supporting role, allowing their presence to be felt subtly but memorably. Pride and reserve were merely tools; reputation was what truly mattered most.

The two most renowned women present tonight were likely Yuan Jin'er from Jinfeng Tower and Lu Caicai from Yinchun Pavilion. Inside her room, Yuan Jin'er was currently holding her face, glancing left and right at her reflection in the bronze mirror after applying her makeup. Her maid, Kou'er, watched from beside her, chatting with her mistress with a slight smile. "Miss," Kou'er whispered, "when you were performing just now, Young Master Cao kept looking at you without even blinking!"

Yuan Jin'er glanced at her with a smile. "When I perform, of course they look at me. What's so strange about that? It's you, Kou'er, who only noticed Young Master Cao. That's quite peculiar."

"Oh, Miss, it's true!" Kou'er protested, her small face scrunched up. "He was staring fixedly!"

"If you weren't staring fixedly at him, how would you know he was staring fixedly at me?" Yuan Jin'er continued to tease with a smile. The maid pouted, embarrassed, and decided to ignore her mistress. But a moment later, she leaned in again, "Miss, who do you think will win the poetry contest tonight?"

Yuan Jin'er tilted her head and pinned a small flower into her hair. "There's no 'first' in literature, and poetry contests don't have a true standard. So, how can there be a champion? You always ask such things, you silly girl. However, we can certainly see which poems will be recited the longest." She picked up a few slips of paper from the table. "Young Master Wang's, Young Master Xi's, and these few from your beloved Young Master Cao. 'Azure sky like water, clear and shallow Milky Way.' Heh, this one is probably the best. Are you happy now? ...And there's Young Master Li from Lichuan, Young Master Tang..."

The little maid pouted, "Who said I like Young Master Cao?"

"Oh, do you dislike him then?" Yuan Jin'er asked, her eyes twinkling as she looked at her.

"Not exactly, but Kou'er is thinking of you, Miss. Young Master Cao likes you, and you came with him today. If Young Master Cao can help you, the title of Qinhuai's Courtesan Queen next year will likely be yours. And if Young Master Cao passes the imperial examination next spring..."

The maid chattered on, and Yuan Jin'er smiled, playfully pinching her nose. "I know," she said. She then picked up the poem written by Cao Guan to read. Between her and Lu Caicai, Lu Caicai excelled at the Pipa, while Yuan Jin'er was skilled in the Guzheng, and her singing ability was generally considered superior. She was to perform this poem later; as she read it, she softly hummed it to herself, breaking into a gentle smile, which made her look like she was happily pursued by a great scholar.

In truth, most courtesans along the Qinhuai River who were somewhat dedicated to their profession claimed to have had difficult pasts. While most of these stories were fabricated or embellished in detail, the underlying concept that they had endured hardships was generally true. Renowned courtesans like Yuan Jin'er and Lu Caicai, having studied poetry and literature, naturally admired various talented scholars. However, while there were occasional tales of famous courtesans marrying poor scholars purely out of admiration for their talent, these were truly rare exceptions. Today, she had accepted Pan Manor's invitation and arrived by carriage with Cao Guan, which suggested a close relationship. She admired Cao Guan's talent, but whether she truly loved him to the extent Kou'er suggested was something even she herself wasn't sure of. For women like them, despite appearing to be adored by many, the genuine opportunities for choice were inherently limited.

Nevertheless, setting aside these thoughts, she felt she had indeed gained a lot from tonight's poetry gathering.

She repeatedly sang the lyrics. A moment later, Kou'er came over from the doorway. "Miss, Miss, it seems there's another excellent poem! Let's go see!"

"Oh?" She smiled, put down the paper, and went out with Kou'er towards the gauze curtain at the end of the long corridor. Several women had already gathered there, and Lu Caicai had also arrived. Yuan Jin'er softly asked, "Sisters, what's happening?" She then leaned by the gauze curtain to watch, just as she heard the line "Raising my cup, I ask the heavens" echoing from the other side. Pan Guangyan had already recited it once; this was a student's second recitation.

The atmosphere at the poetry gathering was, in fact, quite strange at this point, somewhat quieter. During the previous lively exchanges, everyone had eagerly composed and recited poems, chatting and laughing; now, it seemed as if they were suppressed by some aura. Everyone was still savoring the poem. Soon after, these women also managed to get a copy of the poem on a slip of paper. They gathered around, reading the entire piece once, then again. Yuan Jin'er looked up, and her gaze met Lu Caicai's.

"From the Puyuan Poetry Gathering..."

"How could that be..."

"Su Manor, Ning Yi, Ning Liheng, who is this?"

"I've never heard of him..."

Unlike the scholars outside, who were first immersed in the poem itself, these women, upon realizing the poem's significance, were primarily concerned with its author. Several of them read the signature multiple times, asking each other, but none had ever heard of the name. At this point, someone outside also asked, "What do you all think of this poem?"

"Man has sorrow and joy, separation and reunion; the moon has its cloudy and clear moments, its waxing and waning. Such perfection has been rare since ancient times..."

"This poem..."

"Who is the author of this poem?"

For a moment, no one offered an opinion, though some murmured "exquisite" while nodding. Then, the person reciting the poem picked it up again and read the signature. "Su Manor, Ning Yi, Ning Liheng. Does anyone know who this person is?"

A silence fell.

"But if his surname is Ning, why is it signed 'Su Manor'?"

"Which Su Manor?"

"Puyuan Poetry Gathering... surely not that of the Su cloth merchants, right?"

"Could this person be a manager or aide from the Su Manor?"

"I've never heard of this person before..."

For a moment, everyone exchanged bewildered glances and started discussing, but regarding this name, they were all completely puzzled; no one had heard it before. Pan Guangyan then had no choice but to summon the person who had retrieved the poem from outside. This individual was not a servant but a quasi-disciple of his, and also somewhat talented. When his teacher inquired, he smiled and began to relate what he knew.

"Oh, I heard this person is the live-in son-in-law of the Su Manor. He only married into the Su family a few months ago, as the husband of Miss Su Tan'er, the second young lady of the Su Manor. Interestingly, I also heard some rumors: apparently, Ning Liheng caught a cold today and did not attend the Puyuan Poetry Gathering. Tonight, while recuperating at home, he recited this poem to a young maid, merely for his own amusement. Who knew that someone at the poetry gathering would then claim he had no poetic talent at all, and the maid, unable to bear it, brought out the poem... Heh, that's what they say over there; I'm not sure if it's true."

"Su Manor... a live-in son-in-law?"

As soon as these words were uttered, not only did the attendees exchange bewildered glances, but the women behind the gauze curtain nearby also looked at each other in surprise, and then murmurs began to rise.

"He didn't attend?"

"This matter is too bizarre..."

"I, for one... I've never heard of a live-in son-in-law possessing such talent..."

"Ning Yi, Ning Liheng, indeed, I've never heard of him..."

From behind the gauze curtain, the little maid Kou'er asked doubtfully, "Isn't this just the Puyuan Poetry Gathering trying to gain fame by buying a poem?"

It was not uncommon for poetry gatherings to buy poems to gain fame; everyone was aware of this practice. However, even if one were to buy a poem, it was highly unlikely to acquire one of such quality. After learning the author's identity, most people harbored similar suspicions. If someone truly possessed such talent, why would they become a live-in son-in-law? At this moment, someone else voiced their doubts.

"This matter is rather hard to believe..."

"Could it be that the Su Manor wanted to make a name for itself and bought this poem?"

The voice was not loud, and the speaker's tone was tentative, but everyone could hear it. After a moment of silence, someone clearly began to express agreement: "Such a thing is indeed..."

Initially, everyone was captivated by the poem and didn't think too much, but then information like "live-in son-in-law" and "unknown nobody" surfaced, creating a stark contrast with the poem's brilliance. Doubts began to rise almost uncontrollably. Although some composed individuals remained silent, the competitive spirit of the poetry gathering eventually led some to speak out instinctively. Just then, a stern voice suddenly boomed from the platform: "Zi Xing! Silence!"

The speaker, Yu Zixing, was startled by the voice. He looked up to see Old Man Kang holding a writing brush, gazing at him with a serious, imposing look that, without anger, quelled all discussions. Instantly, the entire hall fell silent.